Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!unix!ginger!ubi
From: ubi@ginger.sri.com (Ron Ueberschaer x4399)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: "Innovative software like Hypercard" [sic]
Keywords: Hypercard useless software white elephant
Message-ID: <13997@unix.SRI.COM>
Date: 10 Jul 90 02:09:04 GMT
References: <1990Jul3.113921.1299@d.cs.okstate.edu> <77516@aerospace.AERO.ORG> <1990Jul7.050240.21181@csrd.uiuc.edu>
Sender: news@unix.SRI.COM
Reply-To: ubi@ginger.UUCP (Ron Ueberschaer x4399)
Organization: SRI International
Lines: 19

I have mixed emotions about this argument.  On one hand, I have to
agree with the original observation:  No one uses HyperCard.  It's one
of those tools that are great fun to play with when you first get them,
but don't hold up as being truly useful.  One problem with HyperCard is
that it requires a lot of memory.  Keeping it open, even with
MultiFinder and several megs available, can significantly affect
performance if you've also got a couple of other apps/DAs running.

On the other hand, HyperCard is quite a departure from traditional
applications.  It's really neat how everything is linked together.
It's kind of like the original 1984 Mac--this cool new toy with which
to waste time, but not powerful enough (yet) to be a real tool.  When
all Macs have 32 megs of memory and fast gigabyte optical disks, HC (or
probably SC) stacks will be used by everybody.

I still wish Apple had the generosity to supply a real text editor and
a draw/paint program with new systems.  It's frustrating to pay so much
for the system, and then be limited to TeachText and HyperCard's
limited draw/paint tools.